A Level

“Learners benefit from teachers’ high levels of specialist skills and the passion they have for their subjects.” Ofsted, 2016

Reformed A level courses are studied over two years, with external exams sat at the end of this period. Students are set end of first year mock exams.

Your GCSEs remain important for university
and job selection in the future, even when
you also have A-levels, degrees and
professional qualifications. So your aim in
year 10/11 should be both to achieve the
highest number of GCSE higher grades
(A*-C) and also the highest grades you
can in each subject. Retaking
examinations to improve a C to a B, or an
A to an A* can make a real difference.

At Paston you take three or sometimes
four subjects. These are
national norms and universities make
you an offer on the basis of
performance in three A-level subjects.
A-levels are academic in nature and
assessed mainly through examination
although often with a small coursework
element. They are the nationally
recognised route to university and higher
level employment and so they are the
most popular courses at Paston.

Our students do consistently well, performing “significantly
better than would be expected on the
basis of their GCSE results” (Ofsted).

Your Study Programme

We place great emphasis on choosing
the A-level courses which meet your
aspirations and we will help you in
making those choices. To maximise your
chances of achieving the best grades at
A-level, we will advise you about subject
combinations. This is not to limit choice
but, our experience tells us, those
choices work best for you and will help
you in taking your next step after A-levels
to university or into employment.